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“The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time,” said Thoreau in his 1854 book, Walden. He never saw Sedona. Sand dunes and seabed sediments were laid and then covered by more of the same over 300 million years ago. Under unimaginable compression, they became the sandstone we see today. A massive 3000-foot uplift 13 million years ago created the Mogollon Rim running from central New Mexico to western Arizona exposing the ancient sandstone layers. Walden’s gentle erosion took over. The ethereal beauty of Sedona’s many sandstone formations emerged. Today tourists from all over the world flock to charming and captivatingly scenic Sedona. Offroaders come too, running the many famous rocky trails in the area. Schnebly Hill Road is both a road and a rite of passage. The road itself is crowded and annoyingly bumpy on the descent from the Rim into Sedona. But the views always delight, all that red and buff sandstone formed into monuments ranging from massive to whimsical. Despite being a Jeep Badge of Honor Trail, Schnebly Hill Road is a once and done for many. But it is one that you need to do and will always remember, a touchstone of the community if you will. Thoreau never did Schnebly Hill Road. You should.
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Start a 7-day Free TrialSchnebly Hill Road changes several times during its 11-mile descent into Sedona. The trail is nicely maintained hard-packed dirt in its upper section, Waypoints 1 through 8. From Waypoint 8 to 10, the track gets increasingly rocky. From Waypoint 10, the trail descends 1800 feet along switchbacks and shelves on mostly solid rock with ledges and some exposed boulders. There are no significant or named obstacles along the road, with the exception of heavy traffic on weekends and holidays. It is possible to run in 2WD vehicles with adequate clearance, but not recommended if the conditions are other than optimal. The use of low range on the descent can help save your brakes.
Schnebly Hill Road can be closed due to inclement or winter weather. Research road conditions and weather forecasts before planning a trip to this or any other trail. Schnebly Hill Road is also heavily traveled by Jeep tour drivers, ATV operators, hikers, and mountain bikes, so be situationally aware when traveling on this trail.
Dispersed camping is readily available along the portion of Schnebly Hill Road and it’s spur trails east of Waypoint 10. Many of the campsites lie in the Woods Wildlife Area which is closed to motor vehicles each winter from December 1 to April 15. From the trailhead to Waypoint 3, almost the entire south side of the trail is a series of dispersed campsites, many large enough for groups of RVs. A few smaller sites are scattered among those as well. Most all have fire rings and shade provided by the tall pines. For those with the required clearance, FR 153A hosts a handful of small but epic campsites right on the edge of the Mogollon Rim with the best possible views of Sedona and its red rock wonderland. Dispersed camping is not permitted west of Schnebly Hill Vista, Waypoint 10. For those desiring more amenities, Sedona offers lodging of every stripe from commercial campgrounds to plush resorts.
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